Air Canada's CEO, Michael Rousseau, will be retiring by the end of the third quarter this year. This decision comes after he faced intense criticism for a condolence message delivered in English, with only French subtitles, following a fatal crash at LaGuardia Airport in New York. The airline's headquarters is in Montreal, where about 80% of the population is French-speaking, and critics, including Quebec officials, felt that Rousseau's move showed poor judgment and a lack of sensitivity.
Rousseau, 68, had previously faced criticism for not speaking French and had pledged in 2021 to learn the language. However, he failed to follow through on this promise, which further damaged his public image. Prime Minister Mark Carney described Rousseau's decision to retire as "appropriate," emphasizing the importance of bilingualism for the next CEO of Air Canada.
Quebec Premier François Legault welcomed the decision, stating that the airline's next leader must be able to speak French. Canada's transport minister, Steven MacKinnon, thanked Rousseau for his service and expressed confidence in the airline's continued commitment to safe, reliable, affordable, and bilingual service.
The controversy surrounding Rousseau's language skills has drawn attention to the highly politicized nature of language in Canadian public life. Experts like Daniel Béland of McGill University argue that language remains a contentious issue in the country, and Rousseau's failure to learn French has not helped to improve public perception.
